Former rugged NHL defenseman had players don gloves in boxing training to improve balance and rotational strength. Richardson dropped his gloves on the ice many times, however. Take a look at Richardson's fight card and top videos.
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson added boxing instruction sessions to his team’s off-ice only development camp program this season. Given Richardson’s history as rugged defenseman over 21 NHL seasons, that was only fitting.
Prospects donned gloves to learn boxing techniques and moves, mainly to help improve their balance, rotational strength and mobility on the ice in true hockey situations. As a player from 1987 to 2008, the super-fit Richardson dropped his hockey gloves on the ice plenty of times. See the “fight card” from HockeyFights.com (below, left) along with videos (below).
The boxing sessions at the team’s West Side practice facility were directed by former NHL strength and conditioning coach Barry Brennan. The goal was not to “train guys to be brawlers or fighters,” Richardson said. “We're trying to train them to be good athletes and changing up their workouts in the summer.”
Hockey players, like boxers, need to use many short, explosive movements as they twist, turn and power-through situations at all kind of angles. These “plyometric-like” motions need to become built-in and automatic.
Blackhawks prospects said they enjoyed the boxing sessions, even if they didn’t actually spar against one another in a ring.
“I haven’t hit anyone in the face yet, but it’s been pretty fun to learn,” said forward Frank Nazar, who was drafted 13th overall in 2022 and will return to the University of Michigan for 2023-24.
Probably good. No one wanted to square off with 6-foot-4, 240-pound forward Marcel Marcel anyway.
“I think nobody wants to face him,” said forward Samuel Savoie, Marcel’s teammate with the QMJHL Gatineau Olympiques. “I think he'd knock me out probably in a punch."
Certainly no one wanted duke it out with the 54-year-old Richardson. He took on NHL heavyweights during a career when fighting wasn’t uncommon and penalty minutes were much higher than today.
“I’ve see Luke in there and it’s pretty impressive,” said Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks AHL affiliate in Rockford. “He’s got the gloves on. I’m not going close to him.”
Who did get close to Richardson back in the day?
Here’s a short compilation. Remember, Richardson had 2,055 penalty minutes in 1,417 games after breaking into the NHL at age 18 with Toronto. The Maple Leafs and owner Harold Ballard (see photo, left) made Richardson their first round draft pick, seventh overall in 1987.
NOTE: We spoke with Richardson many times after games in the visitors' dressing room in the basement of the old Chicago Stadium and then at the United Center. He mixed it up more than once – and was part of the story – against the Blackhawks when he skated with Toronto in intra-divisional games at the start his career. From the get-go, the 6-foot-3 Ottawa native was always a straightforward, stand-up guy everyone respected. We saw less of Richardson in Chicago after he moved to on to Edmonton, then Philadelphia and other teams.
Thanks to hockeyfights.com for these.
Luke Richardson versus Blackhawks captain Dirk Graham on Jan. 26, 1991 at the Chicago Stadium. Great sound with the Stadium organ and PA announcer Harvey Wittenberg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DHBy4NzJSg
A dandy! While with Philadelphia, Richardson takes on Craig Berube of Washington on Dec. 5, 1998. The Flyers fans love it. https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/433
Then more heavyweight action. Richardson, with Flyers, tangles with New Jersey’s Scott Stevens. Philly fans, roar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9ppyv_fVxc
Richardson whips New York Ranger's Matthew Barnaby here in on Jan. 12. 2002.
